Wine Options is an entertaining game from which you can learn more about wine. The game can be used to enhance communication between players and foster team building. Wine Options is ideal as a client interaction function or staff or social club event. It is unsuitable as a fund-raiser due to the costs.

How Do You Play Wine Options?

Participants are presented with a series of masked or ‘blind' wines, and the objective of the game is to identify the wines by answering multi-choice questions about them. Normally six wines are presented; three white wines and three red wines. The game is designed to be competitive, where participants are grouped in teams of ideally 4 to 6 people, and the team which correctly answers the most questions by group consensus is the winner. The winners are awarded a prize. The normal duration of the game is around 2 hours.

What Do I Need To Provide?

You need to provide a venue where players can be seated at tables to form teams. Boardrooms, meeting or seminar rooms or cafeterias can be suitable. The venue should ideally have a kitchen or facilities for the separate preparation of the wines plus water supply. Provision of a whiteboard (with markers and duster) and a supply of pens or pencils for the participants is desirable. It would be helpful if you could provide each table with a carafe for water as well.

Numbers

A minimum number of 30 people is required to play Wine Options. Less than that number makes it difficult to form sufficient teams to create the competitive nature of the game. There is no limit or maximum number of players, with Wine Options games for over 150 people having been conducted. However for large groups, it is essential to consider the logistics of the event.

Costs

I will conduct the Wine Options game at a minimum cost of $25.00 per person. Obviously the more you spend the better the quality of the wines used in the game and the better the prizes awarded. This cost covers the wines used in the wine options game, equipment and glassware, personnel and time.

Logistics

Access to the venue, arrangements for delivery of the wines and equipment as well as the collection of the returns after the function will need to be discussed.

Food

It is recommended that you have food available while playing Wine Options. Whether just bread and cheese, platters of antipasto, or something more substantial, food is the natural accompaniment and enhances wine. I suggest that you avoid food that is too strong however, as it may overpower the wine. The food is extra and to your care.

Other Wine Presentations

In addition to Wine Options, themed wine presentations, based on wine styles or varieties, or to suit special situations can be conducted.